Prairie Soils
Introduction
Prairie soils make up approximately 6.9% of the worlds ice-free global land, and 21% of land in the United States (Buol et al. 378). These soils are classified by the USDA as Mollisols. Mollisols are dark fertile soils that are formed from the accumulation organic matter produced by dense root systems of prairie grasses (Brady and Weil 77). The majority of Mollisols are found in temperate climates with variable seasonal environments (Borchert). Fire is also an important in maintaining the grasslands that fuel the organic breakdown of the carbon rich areas (bird 1961). These rich Prairie soils play the largest role for human use in conventional agriculture. This demand for agricultural production has left few Mollisols uncultivated around the world (Brady and Weil 78). Historically the combination of grasses and microbes in this environment has helped create a habitat that humans have preferred for cultivation for thousands of years. Microorganisms in prairie grass environments are responsible for the high amount of organic matter, and consequently the high productivity that is obtained in cultivation. Mollisols have high levels of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus.
Physical environment
Vegetation
Prairie soils are covered by a variety of grasses ranging from short grass steppe species to tall grass species. Short grasses (LINK) typically resemble monoculture meadows not normally exceeding 30cm in height. Tall grass prairies (LINK) are less uniform and caintain grasses growing to heights of 1-3 meters. Vegetation cover is highly dependent on moisture regime in the area. Taller grasses require more moisture (Buol et al. 301).
Soil Composition
Mollisols are rich due to the accelatraed decompostion of organic matter. These soils have a thick, dark, soft mollic epipedon.
Microbial processes
Decomposition
Subsection 2
Microbial communities
What microbial processes define this environment? Describe microbial processes that are important in this habitat, adding sections/subsections as needed. Look at other topics in MicrobeWiki. Are some of these processes already described? Create links where relevant.
Subsection 1
Subsection 1a
Subsection 1b
Subsection 2
Current Research
Enter summaries of recent research here--at least three required
References
Edited by <your name>, a student of Angela Kent at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
